Electric switch mechanism



Jan. 1,1935. J. SACHS ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM/ Filed July 30, 1932 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM Joseph Sachs, West Hartford, Conn. Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,683 9 Claims. `(c1. 20o-so) The invention relates particularly to an inter- Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the locking mechanism adapted to normally hold the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. y

cover of the switch box closed when the switch Referring to the drawing, 1 represents as an and the switch operating mechanism are in entirety a switch enclosing box which maybe of closed-circuit positions and to prevent the moveany usual or preferred shape and size. The box 5 ment of the switch and the switch operating is provided with a front cover 2 which is shown mechanism from closed-circuit position to openas being hinged at the left side. In Fig. 1 the circuit position when the cover of the box is cover 2 is shown partly open, but it is normally open. held `closed by a spring latch 3 projecting The principal object of the invention is to prothrough a slot 4. 10 vide a mechanism of this general class which is Carried by the box is a switch operating means very simple in construction and capable of being which is partly within the box but which nevermanufactured at small cost. Mechanisms of theless includes an exterior operating handle 5. this class have heretofore ordinarily involved Movement of the handle 5 is limited by means several relatively movable parts, but in accordcf stops 6 and 7 carried by the side wall of the l5 ance with the invention I am enabled to accombox-l. The portion of the operating means withplish all of the required functions by means of `in the box preferably comprises a cranked spinonly one movable part additional to the movable dle or bail 8 mounted for rotation about a transcover and the movable switch operating mechaverse axis. The handle 5 may be rigidly connism. nected with the spindle 8 if desired, but I prefer 20 While the invention is not necessarily so limand have shownva quick-make-and-break mechited it is particularly applicable to a switch havanism interposed between the Said handle and ing a quick-make-and-break mechanism of the the said spindle. type which includes an intermediate member Inasmuch as the invention does not involve having separate lost-motion connections with a any details of switch construction I have omitted 25 switch operating member and with an exterior from the drawing any showing of the switch handle. The intermediate member is preferably proper. It will be understood that the operating interlocked with the before-mentioned unitary mechanism as illustrated is adapted for use with interlocking latch and for effecting a snap action any switch capable of being operated by means of the intermediate member there is preferably of a cranked spindle such as the spindle 8. 30 provided an over-the-center spring having asso- As already stated I prefer to provide a quickciated supporting and guiding parts of novel and make-and-break mechanism interposed between advantageous construction. the handle 5 and the spindle 8. Such a mecha- In the accompanying drawing I have shown nism will now be described. Rotatably mounted the embodiment of the invention which I now in an aperture in the right side wall of the box 35 deem preferable, but it will be understood that 1 is a bearing disc 9 peripherally flanged to enthe drawing is intended for illustrative purposes gage the outer surface of the said wall. The only and is not to be construed as defining or right end of the spindle 8 is pivotally mounted limiting the scope of the invention, the claims in a central bearing aperture in the disc 9. The .forming a part of this specification being relied handle 5 is secured to the said disc 9 by means 40 upon for that purpose. of bolts l0, 10. Rotatably mounted on the disc Of the drawing-z v 9 within the box is an intermediate member 11 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a switch encloshaving inward extending lugs 12 and 13 thereon. ing box carrying switch mechanism embodying These lugs are located at opposite sides of the the invention. crank portion of the spindle 8 and are adapted 45 Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational to engage the said crank portion to actuate the l view of the switch mechanism, this view being spindle. Secured to the said disc 9 at the inner taken from the interior of the box looking face thereof is a plate 14, this plate preferably toward the right and the cover being shown in being heid by the/same screws l0, 10 which hold 5f) section. the handle. The ends of the plate 14 overlap 50 Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, but the intermediate member 1-1 to hold it in place, with the cover open and with the parts of the and one end of the plate projects between the mechanism in different positions. two lugs l2 and 13 so as to be adapted to engage Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken either of them. along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. A suitable mechanism is prdvided for moving 55 the intermediate member 11 with a snap action to either of its extreme positions and this means is preferably an over-the-center spring device.

Pivotally connected at 15 with an ear projecting radially from the intermediate member 11 and pivotally connected at 16 with the box side wall is a telescopic spring support. Preferably the spring support comprises a rod 17 having a head 18 at its pivot end adapted to serve as a spring abutment. The rod 17 is preferably formed from sheet metal and is swedged into partly cylindrical form as indicated by the cross sectional view in Fig. 6. The rod 17 extends into a tubular member 19 and is longitudinally movable therein. The said member 19 is connected with an angular sheet metal member 20 slotted at 21 to receive a headed pivot stud 16. Surrounding the rod 17 and the tubular member 19 is a coil compression spring 22, this spring abutting at one end against the angle member 20 and at the other end against the head 18 on the rod 17.

It will be evident that vthe member 20 is held in engagement with the stud 16 by the action of the spring 22, and it will also be evident that, by moving the members 19 and 20 downward in opposition to the spring, the said member 20 may be disengaged from the stud 16, such disengagement being made possible by the open slot 21. When disengaged from the stud all parts of the spring mechanism may be readily disconnected from each other. Thus the spring mechanism may be readily assembled or disassembled without the useof special tools. This construction not only facilitates the original assembly, but it also makes it possible to quickly and easily replace a broken spring.

Fig. 2 shows the closed-switch position of the parts, the handle 5 being in its upper position in engagement or approximately in engagement with the stop 7. To move the switch to openswitch position the handle is moved downward, thus causing the lower end of the plate 14 to engage the lug 12 and move the intermediate member 11 in the clockwise direction. This compresses the spring 22 until the pivot-axis at 15 reaches and vpasses the dead-center position. Thereupon the spring acts to complete the movement of the intermediate member, causing it to move to the position shown in Fig. 3. At or about the time that the dead-center position is reached the lug 13 engages the spindle 8 and the said spindle and the switch connected therewith are moved by the intermediate member with a snap action to the open-switch position shown in Fig. 3.

When the movement is reversed the end of the plate 14 engages the lug 13 to move the inter-.

mediate member 11 in the counter-clockwise direction, this continuing until the dead-center position is reached and passed. Thereupon the spring again acts and the lug 12, being in engagement with the spindle 8, carries the spindle and the switch with la snap action to the closedswitch position.

For effecting interlocking between the switch operating means and the cover 2 there is provided a unitary interlocking member or latch 23 which is preferably pivoted at 24 for movement about a xed axis. A spring 25 tends to` move the latch 23 in the clockwise direction and the movement ofthe latchl is limited by means of -a pin 26 projecting into an arcuate slot 27 in the latch. lCarried by the cover 2v in fixed relation thereto is a locking lug 28 so positioned that its path of opening movement is obstructed by the hook portion 29 of the latch 23 when the latch is in its operative position as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2.

Also carried by the cover 2 in fixed relation thereto is an element 30 adapted to engage a transversely projecting lug 31 on the latch 23. As a matter of structural convenience the locking lug 28 and the said element 30 may be formed as parts of the same piece of metal riveted or otherwise secured to the cover as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The relation of the parts is such thatl when the cover 2 is fully closed the element 30 engages the lug 31 to hold the latch 23 in its inoperative position as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. 1f the switch operating means is in it closed-switch position as shown in Fig. 2, any attempted opening of the cover serves merely to permit the latch 23 to move to its operative position as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. In this position the hook portion 29 .is in the path of opening movement of the lug 28 and the cover cannot be opened.

The switch operating means and the latch are provided with interengaging elements serving to hold the latch in its inoperative'position when the operating means is in open-switch position and serving to prevent movement of the operating means from open-switch position to closed-switch position when the latch is in operative position. These interengaging elements as shown comprise a projection rigidly connected with the intermediate member 11, such projection preferably comprising two spaced fingers 32 and 33. The said interengaging elements also comprise a finger 34 on the latch.

Whenthe switch operating means is in its open-switch position as shown in Fig. 3 the finger 32 engages a shoulder on the latch 23 to hold the latch in its inoperative position. With the latch in this position the cover 2 can be freely opened or closed.

While the cover remains open the, switch operating means cannot be ymoved to its closed switch position. If an attempt is made to so move it the finger 32 releases the latch 23 and the latch immediately moves to its operative position as shown in Fig. 4, carrying the nger 34 into the space between the ngers 32 and 33. The finger 33 engages. the said nger 34 and prevents any further movement of the switch operating means.

When the cover is fully closed the element 30 holds the latch 23 in its inoperative position as already described. When the latch is thus held in its inoperative position by the element 30, rather than by the nger 32, the switch operating means can be freely moved without being in any way obstructed by the latch 23.

I have described the normal and ordinarily intended operation of the interlocking mechanism. It is frequently desirable, however, for an inspector or other authorized person to obtain access to the switch without moving it to its open-circuit position, In order that this may be accomplished the side wall of the box is provided at 35 with a slot into which the locking-lug 28 may project when the cover is in closed position. A space is provided between the lug 28 and the bottom f the slot and the person desiring to open -the cover may insert a screw driver or other,v convenient tool into this space. The tool thus' inserted will serve to hold the latch 23 'in its inoperative position and thus make possible the opening of the cover 2.

lIt is also sometimes desirable for the inspector or other authorized person to operate the switch with .the cover open so that he can observe the ,functioning thereof. This may be accomplished simply by manually holding the latch 23 in its .,inoperativeposition as shown in Fig. 3. If the switch is thus closed with the cover open, the

cover can thereafter be closed as the inclinedy outer surface of the hook portion 29 enables the latch to` be momentarily moved to permit# the lug 28 to pass.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric switch interlocking mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box having an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, switch operating means partly within the box but including an exterior handle, an

(I interlocking latch in the box biased toward its operative position, an element on the cover serving when the cover is fully closed to hold the latch in its inoperative position and normally` serving upon a slight opening movement of the 'cover to permit the latch to move to its operative position in the path of opening movement of the said locking lug, and interengaging elements movable with the operating means and with the latch serving to hold the latch.. in inoperative position when the operating means i's in open-.switch position and serving to prevent movement of' the operating means from open-switch position to closed-switch position whenthe latch is in operative position..

2. In an electric switch interlocking mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box 'having an openable cover with a locking lugthereon, switch operating means partly within the box but"`including an exterior handle, a `unitary interlocking latch in the box movable about a fixed pivotal axis and biased toward an operaetive lug engaging position, an element on the' `cover holding the latch in an inoperative position when the cover is fully closed and otherwise permitting it to move to its said operative lug engaging position, and interengaging elements movable with the operating means and with the latch serving to hold the latch in inoperative position when the operating means is in open-switch position and serving to prevent movement of the operating means from openswitch position to closed-switch position when the latch is in operative position. 3. In an electric switch interlocking mechainism, the combination of a switch enclosing box vhaving an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, switch operating means partly within the box but including an exterior handle, an interlocking latch in the box biased toward its operative position, an element on the cover serving whenothe cover is fully closed to hold the latch in its inoperative position-and normally serving upon a slight opening movement of the cover to permit the latch to move to its operative position in the path of opening movement of the said locking lug, and a projection rigidly connected with an interior part ofthe operating means for directly engaging the 1atch,to hold lit in its said inoperative position when the operating means is in open-switch position and to prevent movement of the operatingmeans from open-switch position to closed-switch position when the latch is in operative position.

4. In an electric switch interlocking mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box having an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, switch operating means partly within' tary interlocking latch in the box movable about a fixed pivotal axis and biased toward an operative lug engaging position, an element on the cover holding the latch in an inoperative position when the cover is fully closed and otherwise permitting it to move to its said operative lug engaging position, and a projection rigidly connected with an interior part of the operating means for directly engaging the latch to hold it in its said inoperative position when the operating means is in open-switch position and to prevent movement of the operating means from open-switch position to closed-switch position when the latch is in operative position.

5. In an electric switch interlocking mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box having an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, a switch operating means partly within the box but including an exterior handle, an interlocking latch in the box biased' toward its operative position, an element on the cover serving when the cover is fully closed to hold the latch in its inoperative position and normally serving upon a slight opening movement of the cover to permit the latch to move to its operative position in the path of opening movement of the said locking lug, and two spaced fingers rigidly connected with a part of the operating means, one finger serving to hold the latch in inoperative position when the operating means is in e nism, the combination 'of a switch enclosing box having an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, a switch operating means partly` within the box but including an exterior handle, an interlocking latch in the box biased toward its operative position, an element on the cover serv- CTI ing when the cover is fully closed to hold the i latch in its inoperative position and normally serving upon a slight opening movement of the cover to permit the latch to move to its operative position in the path of opening movement of the said locking lug, a finger rigidly connected with a part of the operating means and serving to hold the latch in inoperative position when the operating means is in open-switch position, and a finger on the latch movable upon release of the latch bythe first said finger into position to prevent movement of the operating means from open-switch position to closed-switch position.

7. In an electric switch interlocking mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box having an openable cover with a locking lug thereon, a pivoted switch operating member in the box, a pivoted exterior handle, a pivoted intermediate member having lost-motion connection with the handle and with the operating member, snap-action means for moving the intermedia-te member to either of its extreme posion the latch serving to hold the latch in inoperative position when the intermediate member is in open-switch position and serving to prevent movement of the intermediate member from open-switch position to closed-switch position when the latch is in operative position.

8. In an electric switch mechanism, the com- 5 bination of a switch enclosing box, a. pivoted switch operating member in the box, a pivoted exterior handle, a pivoted intermediate member having lost-motion connection with the handle and with the operating member, a headed stud 10 on a side wall of the box, an abutment member having a slot into which the stud extends to provide a. detachable pivotal connection, a rod pivoted to the intermediate member and having telescopic engagement with the abutment member for longitudinal movement therein, the said rod and abutment member being freely separable from each other when the latter is detached from the stud, and a coil compression spring abutting against the abutment member andsurrounding the rod and serving in conjunction therewith as an over-the-center means to move the intermediate member to either extreme position, the said spring being freely removable from or replaceable in the mechanism when the said rod and abutment member are separated from each other.

9. In an electric switch mechanism, the combination of a switch enclosing box, a pivoted switch operating member in the box, a pivoted exterior handle, a pivoted intermediate member having lost-motion connection with the handle and with the operating member, a headed stud on a side wall of the box, a tubular abutment member having an open-ended slot into which the said stud extends to provide a detachable pivotal connection, a rod pivoted to the intermediate member and extending into and approximately fitting the tubular member for longitudinal movement therein, the said rod and tubular member being freely separable from each other when the latter is detached from the stud, and a coil compression spring surrounding the tubular member and the rod and serving in conjunction therewith as an over-the-center means to move the intermediate member to either extreme position, the said spring being freely removable from or replaceable in the mechanism when the rod and tubular member are separatedA from each other.

JOSEPH SACHS. 

